Bumper



Feb. 14, 1928.

' H. T. HOPWOGD BUMPER Filed March 16, 1927 'HHI llyil' ag APatented'Feb. 14, 1928 umreeasm res PATENT L I HAR Y T- ,Horwoon; 1EVELAND GHT OHIO SS N R TH EA ON L & seams .oo /rPANY; or CLEVELAND,OHIO, A CORPORATION ononlo.

" BUMPE Application filedMarch 16, 1927. SerialNo. 175,673.

This-invention relates to. improvements in bumpers for automobiles, andparticularly to means for cheaply 1 and 1 eilectively ornamentingthesame. I

r In order Lo have bumperspresent an attractive appearance, it is commonpractice to nickel-plate the lmpact IGCQlVlDg. bars.

Such bars infull size bumpers are rather large and require bulky andexpensive equip- 1 ment for the niclzeling operation. Further more, thebutting of the nickel is partially a hand operation which involvesconsiderable labor and adds to the cost.

One of the objectsot the present invention is to provide a finish forbumper bars which shall be at least the equivalent in good appearance ofthe fully nickeled bar but which shall involve only a fraction of thecost of production of the fully nickeled bar.

Another object is the provision of means which shall permit the use ofmaterial of a given section for impact withstanding bars and a givenkind of ornamental wire upon any and all types of bumpers, thus keepingthe material requirements of a given manufacturing establishment at aminimum.

- Other objects of the invention and the features of novelty will appearfrom the fol-.

3o lowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of'a fender guard embodying my invention; I

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1 looking in thedirection of arrow 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking in the direction of arrow 3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on line ll of Fig. 8, showing theparts on a larger scale; s

Fig. 5 is a section of a bumper bar. taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2' but ona larger scale; and 7 Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views corresponding toFig. 5 but showing modifications.

In the drawings I have illustrated my in-' opposite sides of theautomobile. To this transverse bar are secured, by means of bolts 11, orthe like, supporting bars 12 and 13 l which at. their other ends carryplates 1 43 and 15 thatare roughly triangular'in shape and are securedtothebarsby any suitable means, as by rivets 16. o H The plates let and 15constitute thasupports for a pair of superposed spaced impactwithstanding bars 17 and 18', the latter being secured to the plates bybolts 19. In each of the bars 17 and 18 there are formed one or moregrooves 20 extending throughout the length of the bar and preferablyparallel to its length. These grooves may be most economically formed inthe bar during the rolling operation at the timeof its manufacture. Ineach roove' Imount an orna mental wire 21 pro erably formed to fit thegroove more or less snugly. These wires are out from a coil which hasbeen treated in some manner to give it an attractive and lasting finishas, for instance, nickel-plating, and they are preferably of a colorwhich contrasts wit-h the color of the bar. A bar enam eled or paintedinblack or some dark color provides a good background for nickeled wire.7

The wire is held in place in its groove by some suitable method ofattachment. That here illustrated consists of clamps. at the ends ofthebars, and as a convenient clamping means I utilize the plates 14 and 15which serve also to support the bars. These plates overlie the wires 21and are drawn up tightly. into contact with the same by nuts 19 on thebolts 19, which latter extend through aligned holes in the bars andplates, the center wire 21Vbeingcut a little shorter than the outer onesso as to clear the bolts. Each bar 17 or 18 is therefore mounted on theplate14 or on the plate 15 and the corresponding ends of its wires 21are clamped in place all by a single bolt 19 and nut 19. Thewires 21 mayalso be secured'in posi tion by spot welding them to the bars 17 and 18at the-ends of the wires, and also at intermediate points.

While I have illustrated in my preferred form wires 21 of roundcross-section, obviously wires of other cross-sectionsmay be employed ifdesired, and as examples of such other cross-sections, I haveillustrated I in Figs-6 and 7 respectively square wires 22 and halfround wires 23.

Various modifications are possible Without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, andI therefore desire to have it understood that theforegoing description and the accompanying illustrations are not in- 2.A bumper bar having a plurality of spaced longitudinal grooves, in theface thereof, and an ornamental Wire mounted in each" groove and securedtherein, said Wires projecting from the surface of the bar, whereby anornamental ribbed'structure is produced.

3. A bumper bar having a plurality of spaced longitudinal semi-circulargrooves in the face thereof, and a Wire of circular cross sectionmounted in each groove and secured therein, approximately half of eachWire projecting from the surface of the bar, whereby an ornamentalribbed structure is produced. 7

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

HARRY T. HOPl/VOOD.

